Gaining on deficit

Parks Dept. costs down by $17,000; still in red

Madison's Parks and Recreation Department cut its operating costs by more than $17,000 from 2011 to 2012.

In 2011, the Parks Department finished $51,429.20 over budget. In 2012, the department ended $34,174.59 over budget.

The two biggest cuts from 2011 to 2012 came in payroll, down $4,494.35, and repair and maintenance, down $4,014.50.

"We did make a little bit of an improvement," Parks board president Dan Cole said. "Our initial operating cost is a lot less compared to eight, 10, 12 years ago," he said.

Of the parks facilities, Brown Gym, Crystal Beach and the Rucker Sports Complex each finished over budget. Brown Gym finished $33,445.89 over budget. While Crystal Beach and the Rucker Sports Complex still finished in the red, both made significant operational cost cuts. Crystal Beach finished $19.83 over budget, and Rucker was $46,344.02 over budget, down from $104,908.06 over budget in 2011.

All other Parks and Recreation facilities finished in the black for 2012. The campgrounds showed a $44,519.85 profit; Sunrise Golf Course had a net income of $3,637.99, up from a net loss of $19,369.07 the previous year.

The Riverfront Dog Park had a net income of $234.56.

"I think that's a worthwhile small park that a lot of our community members take advantage of," Cole said.

In other business:

Crystal Beach is being brought up to compliance with the Americans' with Disabilities Act by installing a chair lift. The lift will be installed before the start of the pool season and taken down at the end.